“I’ve never met him. My sister arranged it.” She couldn’t stop staring at him. There was something different about him, she thought, an aura of.... She didn’t know what, but it surrounded him like an invisible cloud. Taking a step back, she said, “Would you like to come in?”
“Sure.” He followed her into the living room. “Nice place.” It was small but cozy, the walls a pale peach, the floors hardwood. A throw rug made a bright splash of color in front of the fireplace.
“Thanks. Please, sit.”
He sat on the blue-print sofa that faced the hearth, hands clenched to keep from taking her in his arms.
She took the chair opposite, her hands clasped in her lap. “What brings you to Vermont?”
“You, of course,” he said, smiling. “Why else would I be here?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know.” It felt ridiculously good to see him again, but did she dare put it into words?
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” he said quietly.
His dark gaze moved over her face. It sent a shiver of awareness down her spine. “I’ve missed you, too,” she admitted. “How long will you be in town?”
“As long as you want me to be.” Long enough to make her his, no matter how long it took.
Before she could answer, there was another knock at the door.
“Sounds like your date’s here,” Conor said. Rising, he took her hand in his. “I want to see you again. Say yes, Bryn. Tomorrow night at the same time?”
“I’d like that.” She followed him to the door, endured an uncomfortable moment as the two men looked each other over.
Jaw clenched, Conor fought down the urge to drive his fist into the other man’s face. Muttering, “Later,” he strode down the hall toward the elevator, every instinct urging him to go back and lay claim to the woman he wanted.
Bryn sighed as she watched him go.
“Are you ready?” Rob asked.
“Yes, just let me get my coat.”
He took her out to dinner at a lovely restaurant, insisted she order anything she wanted. He was nice, polite, easy to talk to. They enjoyed the same kinds of movies and music, which was a nice plus. After dinner, he took her dancing. She felt comfortable with him, laughed at his jokes, enjoyed his company, but she didn’t feel any spark of attraction.
Later that night, at her door, he took her hands in his. “I had a good time tonight,” he said. “But the whole time we were together, I had the feeling you were thinking of that other guy who was here earlier.”
Bryn bit down on her lip. He was right and she didn’t deny it.
Leaning forward, he kissed her on the cheek. “If it doesn’t work out with him, I hope you’ll give me a call.”
Bryn nodded. Brow furrowed, she watched him walk away, then turned and went inside, wondering how she would concentrate at work tomorrow knowing Conor Saintcrow was in town.
~ * ~
She woke after a restless night, her first thought for Conor. She hadn’t stopped thinking about him since she returned home from Morgan Creek. He had infiltrated her dreams, occupied every waking moment. Even when she’d been concerned for her father, thoughts of Conor had seeped into the back of her mind. What was he doing? Did he ever think of her? If so, why hadn’t he called?
Bleary-eyed, she climbed out of bed and headed into the bathroom to shower. She dressed in a crisp white shirt and a navy skirt, tied her hair back in a ponytail, and went into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. She wasn’t really hungry and decided to skip breakfast. She could always get something later at work.
~ * ~
Never had a day passed so slowly, Bryn thought, as she shut down her computer and locked a pile of confidential paperwork in her desk drawer. She had spent every spare minute thinking about Conor. She had it bad, she thought. If she was smart, she would end it now before it was too late, before she lost her heart completely.
She shook her head as she left her office and took the elevator down to the main floor. She already cared too much and she barely knew him. She told herself it was just infatuation. She had never met a man so gorgeous. Tall, dark, and handsome, with a deep, sensuous voice that could charm the birds out of the sky, and a smile that did funny things in the pit of her stomach.
Why did he have to live so far away? Long distance relationships rarely lasted. He had a good job working for his father. She had a great job that paid well, included the best health care money could buy, a three-week vacation, and all the major holidays off. Jobs like that didn’t come along every day of the week.
She sighed as she stepped out of the building, gasped as she came face to face with Conor. “What are you doing here? How did you know where I work?”